United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could potentially face criminal charges in the United States after leaving office over longstanding allegations of heroin trafficking.
The firm made the claim in a statement published on its verified X account on Tuesday, following its review of court filings involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
However, the organisation stressed that the documents it reviewed do not establish that the US government has decided to prosecute Mr Tinubu.
According to the firm, its concern centres on responses from the FBI and DEA to inquiries about whether any investigation or enforcement proceeding connected to the allegations remains active.
It said the two agencies were separately asked to confirm that, more than three decades after the events in question, there was no pending investigation or enforcement action relating to the underlying cases.
The firm said neither agency provided such confirmation, instead maintaining that it was not obligated to comment on whether a law-enforcement investigation or proceeding existed.
“Based on our reading of some of the case filings, we believe President Tinubu may face criminal charges after he leaves office, when he no longer has immunity ratione personae, in connection with the heroin-trafficking allegations,” the organisation said.
It further pointed to references to wiretaps in FBI and DEA filings and noted that some individuals allegedly associated with the underlying investigation are now deceased.
The firm nevertheless acknowledged that the refusal by the agencies to rule out an investigation does not prove that charges are imminent or planned.
“Their refusal doesn’t prove charges are coming against President Tinubu,” it said, while questioning why the agencies had not simply confirmed that no current investigation or enforcement proceeding existed.
The latest development is part of a wider controversy surrounding historical narcotics-related records involving the Nigerian president. The allegations have resurfaced in recent months amid renewed efforts by the US-based organisation to draw attention to the records and press American authorities over their status.
The Nigerian Presidency has previously maintained that the matter was resolved decades ago and that Mr Tinubu is not facing criminal charges in the United States.
For now, there is no indication from the FBI or DEA that Mr Tinubu is being prosecuted, and the latest claim remains an assessment by the lobbying organisation rather than an announcement of criminal proceedings by US authorities.
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